Let's Embrace Winter Together!

When you have been around since 1950, you've done and seen a lot and the High Park Ski Club is no different. Our club has changed over the years, but one thing has never changed - our commitment to our members.

In the era of leather boots, ‘bear-trap’ bindings, wood skis and rope tows, a group of ardent downhill skiers at the High Park YMCA held their first meeting in 1950.
Club downhill ski trips were word-of-mouth excursions in car pools to local hills.
In December 1951, the members proposed the election of a president and a board. Herb Houston became the first president. School buses picked up members along Yonge St. Annual membership was $3, $2 of which went to the YMCA.
The first trip to Collingwood cost $5.25 for the bus and two tickets. In February 1952, members went on the first overnight trip to Sundridge.
The Skier’s Delight Dance in January 1952 was the club’s first social event.
High Park was the first club in Canada to bring in Warren Miller to show one of his now-legendary films as part of a gala fundraiser.
In the winter of 1952-53, one of the most important steps in club history was taken - the downhill ski school was born. The club arranged a fund to allow one of the club’s best downhill skiers to attend a course given by the Canadian Ski Instructors’ Alliance (CSIA). Club racing also began in the same season
The club’s first three CSIA-trained instructors were Ray Morito, Frank Hatanaka and Don Bell. Don remained active with the club into the early 1980s.
Late in the decade, a group of cross-country skiers began helping blaze trails at Medonte.

Membership reached 400 in 1963!
The club left High Park. In 1965, the clubhouse was shifted north to the Westwood YMCA on Robina Ave. Meetings were held at the Maple Leaf Ballroom on St. Clair Ave. W.
Long trips began taking root. The first New Year’s Eve trip went to Mt. Tremblant in 1966-67. The next season, the first charter trip went to Europe.
In 1969, the club took the shape it still has today. The first by-laws were drawn up, and High Park was incorporated as a not-for-profit adult ski club.
The club went on the move again. Meetings and social gatherings were held at the Masonic Temple at Yonge and Davenport.

The club rented chalets at Sutton, Tremblant and Blue Mountain.
Membership grew so rapidly that the club mandated a cap of 3,000 members. There were long lineups when the October deadline to join approached and many had to be turned away.
Cross-country skiers made up about 30% of the members. Marlene (Johnston) Baily and John Baily organized High Park Ski Club’s first cross-country Ski School in 1971.
By this point, the club had so many members and brought in so much money, the auditors warned it could lead to a Revenue Canada investigation and the loss of our not-for-profit status. So the club brought in famous DJ “Wolfman Jack” from California and threw a party at the St. Lawrence Market!
People had lots of fun, on and off the slopes. It was the ‘70s!

Snow schools decide to focus on basics of ski lessons and races.
Innovations in ski equipment design influences new methods of skiing.
Don Yeaman’s annual Valentine’s Day trip to Kissing Bridge southeast of Buffalo regularly filled six or seven buses—the record was 10!
The club had many "social" only members.

The club responds to a recession-era drop in membership to under 1,500 by forming the marketing committee to lure back former members and recruit new ones.
Smoking banned on all HPSC buses.
Ron Dean teaches the club’s first snowboarding classes in 1994. He is soon joined by Herb Hoff, who introduces protective padding for beginners.
The club migrated again – leaving behind the Masonic Temple, first for Estonian House, then Lithuanian Hall in 1997. The office returns to it's roots, moving to a storefront in the High Park/Bloor West area.
The first High Park Ski Club web site came to life in 1998-99 and so did the first e-mail newsletter, SnoBytes.
By decade’s end, membership rebounds back to almost 2,000.

Club celebrates its 50^th Anniversary with a Gala event in 2000.
Online registration becomes standard for day trips removing the need to collect cash on the bus.
SnoBiz, our club newsletter, moves electronically.
By the end of the decade the Great Recession impacts the club with membership dipping below 1,000.

A new generation joins the club, with an increase in Gen X aged members.
The Blue Mountain hill climb is revived as the annual "Climb Every Mountain" tradition.
The Black and White Gala celebrates the club’s 65^th Anniversary in 2015.
Long trips signup moves online in 2016.
New mission statement approved at the 2019 AGM.
Helmets become mandatory for all downhill/snowboard lessons.
By the end of the decade, membership climbs back above 1,000.

In March 2020 the club season is cut short overnight, including the special 70^th Anniversary Gala, by the COVID-19 pandemic.
The 2020/21 season is cancelled due to the pandemic and the provincial government shut down of all Ontario downhill ski resorts. Membership is deferred over to the next season.
For cost savings, the club moves to a virtual model, giving up the physical clubhouse.
HPSC resumes limited day trips during the 2021/22 season, requiring social distancing on the bus and in lessons, with mandated masking.
While things returned somewhat to normal during the 2022/23 season, the club retained mandated masking on the bus.
Membership rebounds in 2023/24 to over 1,100 members including more than 400 new members. However, due to poor weather conditions the daytrip season is cut short.
Our special 75^th Anniversary season in 2024/25 included the highest number of charter and overnight trips, as well as alpine and nordic daytrips, in a long time.

However, one question remains the same: "Do you ski in High Park?" And our answer is: "We ski everywhere!"